While there has been much hope for some type of cannabis legislation to go through the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly, it’s unlikely to happen, according to Sen. John Schickel (R-Union). Speaking on the Frankfort LINK live Thursday, Schickel said he doesn’t think there’s enough time in this session to get a Senate vote. The bill also died in the Senate last year.
REWATCH last night’s Facebook LINK Live here
Earlier on Thursday, House Bill 136 cleared the House. Rep. Rachel Roberts (D-Newport) introduced a floor amendment to add “PTSD” to the list of conditions that would qualify for a cannabis card under the bill.
But, after the committee hearing and before introducing the floor amendment, Roberts noted the bill would be quite restrictive.
“If passed, House Bill 136 would be the most restrictive medical cannabis bill in the United States,” Roberts said. “I would love to see it include many more diagnoses. For instance, ALS is not included as a diagnosis. Parkinson’s Disease is not included as a diagnosis.”
While there is still time left for it to happen, the bill holds a lot of hope after one key piece of the Senate puzzle signaled he would vote for the bill.
“I will support Rep. Nemes’s HB136,” said Sen. Whitney Westerfield (R-Crofton). ”I continue to have concerns about the risk of increased access to marijuana., particularly among youth and young adults for whom it remains a recreational and gateway drug. I also have concerns about the precedent we’re setting by ignoring federal law. However, I’ve heard too many stories, in my district and out, from those long-suffering and their loved ones left behind, that marijuana brought comfort and relief when nothing else worked.”
Governor vetoes bills to end COVID state of emergency and cut unemployment benefits
The governor vetoed Senate Joint Resolution 150, which would end the COVID State of Emergency in Kentucky. The legislature is now expected to override the veto.
If so, it could potentially cost $50 million in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program) Benefits, as federal funds have been pouring into the state via the CARES Act and ARPA Funds. In order for the state to receive those extra funds, a state
of emergency must be declared.
“Senate Joint Resolution 150 is politics at its worst,” Beshear said. “It will take food off the tables of more than a half-million Kentuckians, most of them struggling seniors and struggling children.”
Senate President Robert Stivers issued a statement ahead of the governor’s veto that said that the General Assembly has no intent to block federal aid during the pandemic from coming into the state.
“As the Governor evaluates Senate Joint Resolution 150, which is legislation expiring the COVID-19 State of Emergency effective upon his signature or the General Assembly’s potential veto override, it is important to note that he already agreed to end his two-year State of Emergency on April 14 as evidenced by his signature to Senate Bill 25 on January 14,” said Senate President Robert Stivers in a statement. ‘While SJR 150 ends the emergency a month earlier than SB 25, it also explicitly states that the General Assembly has no intent to impair or delay the ability of the Commonwealth to receive any federal stimulus or pandemic-related funds or services.’”
The governor also vetoed House Bill 4, which would cut unemployment benefits, early Friday.
“I vetoed HB4 because it goes against our values,” Beshear said in a statement. “This bill callously reduces jobless benefits for Kentuckians who have fallen on tough times and disproportionally impacts our Eastern and Western Kentucky communities negatively impacted by the downturn of the coal industry.”
Among the opposition is Northern Kentucky Representative Rachel Roberts (D-Newport), who noted the bill would have on women and minorities, particularly when it comes to pay disparity.
“Historically, women and minorities are paid less for the same job,” Roberts said when she argued against the bill on the House floor. She then joined with Rep. John Blanton (R-Salyersville).
“I join the gentleman from Magoffin. In pleading with you, I implore you, do not pass this bad bill,” Roberts said.
Bill to help resettle Ukrainian refugees advances in Senate
Northern Kentucky Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Taylor Mill) introduced a bill Wednesday morning to set up a fund to help Ukrainian refugees resettle in Kentucky.
“As this year advances, there are probably going to be significant opportunities to help with the resettlement of these people who wanted nothing to be free and are leaving countrymen behind who are fighting the very kind of fight that this nation fought several centuries ago,” McDaniel said.
Under the bill, a fund would be set up to provide roughly $10,000 per family that relocates to Kentucky. This would qualify approximately 5,000 families that lost their homes due to war, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A scholarship would also be set up for the children of these refugees. The fund would also appropriate $5 million per fiscal year of the biennium to Kentucky Refugee Ministries for the program’s administration.
